Each weekday on this blog you will find an episode of a western short story featuring Rance Dehner, a detective who operates in the old West. When the story concludes, it will be archived for those readers who prefer to read a story from start to finish.

Dehner made his way to the fallen sheriff and hastily examined the body. He then shouted back to the stage. “This man plotted the kidnapping of Miss Whiting. I had to kill him, he--”

“Are we here for a show or some fool lecture!” The loud words came from somewhere in the crowd. A large number of voices were raised in agreement.

“I hear you, gentlemen!” Patten declared from the stage as he turned to Felix Murphy, who was sitting at a front row table. “Mr. Mayor, help Dehner lug that body out of here. We’ve got a big night ahead of us!”

Dehner stifled a laugh. Carrie Whiting was right: “The West is a tough, brutal land.”

Episode Twenty-One

***

“Okay,
Miss Whiting,” Glenn Wilson shouted. “I want you to give our new sheriff a big
kiss on his cheek!”

Carrie
Whiting and Curt Weldon stood behind a round table in the Silver Crown Saloon.
On top of the table was the money which had been found the previous night in
the home of Tal Streeter. Wells Fargo was getting most of its stolen money
returned.

Carrie
held her lips against the cheek of Sheriff Curt Weldon whose right arm was in a
sling from the bullet he had taken the previous night. Nobody witnessing this
event realized it but this picture was to make Curt Weldon an almost legendary
figure. The town may now be called Patten, Texas but Bruce Patten would not own
the sheriff.

After
the newspaper man had finished his task, Carrie smiled at the sheriff and
wished him well. She then began to leave the saloon and head for the stage
depot.

An
entourage of people accompanied her including Rance Dehner. George McLeod
walked beside the singer carrying her suitcase. McLeod had headed for Dry Creek
or rather Patten, Texas when news of the kidnapping attempt reached Dallas. He
had arrived on the morning stage.

Dehner
admitted to himself that he was not happy to see McLeod. The detective had
planned on volunteering his services to ensure that Miss Whiting arrived safely
back in Dallas. McLeod made his altruism unnecessary.

Damn
George McLeod, Dehner thought with both frustration and amusement.

It appeared that Rance wouldn’t even be able
to say good-bye to Carrie. At the stage depot a circle of men formed around
her. The detective could hear Carrie giving each one an exuberant thank you. It
seemed foolish to barge into the circle and, like the others, demand the
woman’s time.

As
she stepped onto the coach, Carrie Whiting looked over the heads of her flock
of followers and glanced directly at Rance as if she had known he was standing
there. She gave the detective a playful smile and a wink, then she bent over
and entered the coach. George McLeod got in beside her blocking any further
significant view Dehner might have of the singer.

Later
that night, sitting by a campfire and drinking his second cup of coffee, Dehner
thought back on that brief farewell he received from Carrie Whiting. He tried
to put it out of his mind or, at least, put it in perspective. The singer tried
to be attentive and gracious to everyone. The recognition she gave him was a
nice gesture which she had, no doubt, forgotten by now.

But
the detective knew that he would never forget Carrie Whiting. That playful
smile and the accompanying wink would come back to him during the many lonely
hours spent trying to sleep under a vast, dark sky.

The Posse

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Bio

As a kid, I idolized Hopalong Cassidy, which was the most intelligent choice I made during my first thirty years. Much of my professional life has been spent as a literary agent, but I also wrote westerns to prove I didn’t always have to live off the work of other people.
I can now devote myself full time to writing in a genre I love. I’m being a straight shooter when I say your opinion is important to me. When you have a moment, let me know what you think about Wild West Detective. Alas, the western genre has been riding over some tough territory for several decades. I hope this site can bring new folks into the corral and give them a taste of the fun that the western has given me.
jamesclay20@gmail.com